COLL A&H, CSA distribution (Eastern Religious Tradition for the
Religious Studies minor)
This course introduces students to the study of several Asian
religions, namely Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Daoism, and
Shinto, and focuses on the question of what the classics are and why
they are classic. Over the course of the semester, we will explore
the changing interpretations of important, canonical texts such as
the Dao de jing and Bhagavad gita. And in the process, we will
analyze how context affects the meaning, status, and uses of a
religious text. This course includes in-depth readings from primary
sources (though we will also use a textbook for background
information), and asks students to read critically and actively. In
addition to readings assigned for each class meeting, requirements
include a midterm, final, and short weekly writing exercises. The
course format includes both lectures and discussions, and there are
no pre-requisites.